22 replies to this topic

[Forestina]

Hey all,

I just wanted to share something I did today that may have not been a good idea. I am brand new to birding (so new that the field guild is still in mail transit). I don't know much about birds and am trying to learn. I went to a wildlife sanctuary and outside the gate on the street I saw an Acorn Woodpecker. I was watching it for a bit and remembered reading about someone playing the bird's song to access an elusive bird. So I pulled out my phone and played the Acorn Woodpeckers song and about 4 more showed up. A lady asked me if it was a recording and scolded me that I should not do this because it stresses out the birds.

Funny usually I am very careful with nature and try to do my best to take care of it. I guess it was just a moment of stupidity. But between you and I, it was really cool to see them respond.

Anyway, thoughts?

[Melissa :)]

I've heard mixed things. I know a few professionals who play bird calls to lure birds in, and I've also had people tell me that playing calls stresses birds out. I went birding with a pro and he played a Whip-poor-will song to lure one in close, and all it did was flew past, land in a tree, and watch us-- clearly not stressed. But I've watched other people play cardinal calls and the males would stick their crests up and screech back, flying from tree to tree. But the females just looked interested.

So I think it really just depends on the bird. I just wouldn't play it for a long, straight period of time.

[GreatHorn]

I've heard mixed things. I know a few professionals who play bird calls to lure birds in, and I've also had people tell me that playing calls stresses birds out. I went birding with a pro and he played a Whip-poor-will song to lure one in close, and all it did was flew past, land in a tree, and watch us-- clearly not stressed. But I've watched other people play cardinal calls and the males would stick their crests up and screech back, flying from tree to tree. But the females just looked interested.

So I think it really just depends on the bird. I just wouldn't play it for a long, straight period of time.

I agree with that. Don't go overboard by playing the call over and over again. I don't think much harm is done if you simply make the bird curious - it'll continue on with its life soon enough. I'm guilty of trying to coax down a Yellow-throated Vireo from the trees... no luck.

[Forestina]

Just read this article... I think it has some very good points about this subject. Wish I had read it before setting out today!

http://www.sibleygui...ack-in-birding/

[creeker]

Should have told that lady that her being there stresses out the birds as well.......

[illin]

I would say it all depends on the location, species, and situation. I have only been present when a tape was played once and I did not care for it. It was a N Parula male on territory and it definitely stressed the thing, it nearly flew into the car trying to find the other "bird". Nothing against those that do it, but part of the fun of birding for me is getting out in nature and searching for the birds. If I don't see it today I will get it another day.

[Melissa :)]

Nothing against those that do it, but part of the fun of birding for me is getting out in nature and searching for the birds. If I don't see it today I will get it another day.

Yeah, I normally play it when I have found the bird and just want it lure it out further to get a picture, or to match a call I am hearing.

[fisherman1313]

I always carry my iPhone with me when birding and occasionally use it to try to lure birds into view, but I only play the calls/songs of birds that I have already seen (without getting a good look) or heard, unless I'm with a group and someone wants to try for something we have not seen already. I will typically play the recording once and then wait, if I do not get a response I try once more, if that doesn't work then I move on. I also do quite a bit of birding with beginners and use my iPhone to play songs/calls of common birds so the beginners can hear the bird that a more experienced member of the group has just IDed by ear. I was doing this once so a beginner would know what to listen for the next time a Dark-eyed Junco sang and was almost hit in the head by the bird! The little guy (the junco not the beginning birder) was so aggitated that I did not play any more recordings until we were well away from the bird's territory. And, I have never birded with anyone who objected to me playing a recording. In fact, on almost every field trip I've been on since getting my gizmo, as the president of the local Audubon chapter calls it, I've been asked at least once to play a recording.

[Forestina]

Thank you for the feedback. I suppose it depends on the situation and what kind of bird you are searching for. One thing I learned today though was to take greater care with it and use it sparingly.

[creeker]

Thank you for the feedback. I suppose it depends on the situation and what kind of bird you are searching for. One thing I learned today though was to take greater care with it and use it sparingly.

Pretty much true with everything in life, eh?

[cwj2323]

Personally, I wouldn't ever use playback, but have been with groups where the leader and others have. Last time, there were two people using it and it caused confusion because some didn't know this new person was using it, and so we're looking around trying to find this bird and it was a silly Ipad. It does bother me when the songs are used during breeding season. The birding trip leader will use the Eastern Screech Owl calls to try to bring out birds and in a way this seems a lesser disturbance rather than causing the male birds to believe he's got a rival nearby.

The biggest issue I have is when we are out in a marshy area and someone will clap loudly to flush the hidden birds. I guess I'd rather the birds stay hidden or come out on their own than to be scared out of their wits like that. But because our family are newbies, do we have a right to ask the more experienced ones not to do this?

[folkeye]

The group I went with this weekend (some hard core birders/Audubon folks) used the recordings to get birds closer. It did work very well, especially for the Nuthatches. They came right away. If they seemed agitated, the recording wasn't used again and the birds stuck around long enough to be observed. She did not use it for every bird seen. It was also used for the out of sight target birds we were looking for. Recording would be played, then we'd listen for a response. If nothing, it was played again, then we moved on if nobody called or showed up.

I do know the rule of thumb is to NOT use it on a rare bird/endangered bird. They get left alone.

[fisherman1313]

CWJ2323, did the person who was clapping say that they were doing it to try to flush the birds? The reason I ask is because sometimes rails will call in response to loud clapping.

In my opinion using owl calls causes more disturbance than playing the territorial calls of the target bird because many different species will respond to an owl call at the same time, disturbing several species at once. I believe it's also possible that both members of a pair may respond to an owl call, leaving a nest unprotected. Of course, whenever I've tried using owl calls all the birds just hunkered down and stopped calling, so it was not an issue.

[Desertthorn]

I wish I could find a call that would send the starlings out of my yard.

[JimBob]

At Murray Lake the leader played a Common Yellowthroat call to try to lure one out for my lifer. . . A female, and two juveniles came out, but didn't see the male. That kind of surprised a lot of people, they thought only males responded to songs.

So, is it normal for females birds to respond to male calls, even after they have found a mate? (assuming the juvies were hers)

[Forestina]

haha maybe she was just "playing the field"

[fisherman1313]

is it normal for females birds to respond to male calls, even after they have found a mate? (assuming the juvies were hers)

Yes, it is normal. When a bird is "on territory" it will often respond to calls/songs of it's own species, no matter the sex. The female is just as cusious as the male to find out who the "invader" is. Wrentits are a perfect example of this. Every time I've played Wrentit to draw them out for someone who has never seen one, both members of the pair come out to drive off the "intruder".

[JimBob]

Thanks, I wasn't sure. I know that in cardinals male and female sing. . . does the female sing to protect territory?

[fisherman1313]

Thanks, I wasn't sure. I know that in cardinals male and female sing. . . does the female sing to protect territory?

That I'm not sure of. I've never heard of any studies as to why some female birds sing. It may be just to keep in conatact with the male and it may be territorial.

[creeker]

I wish I could find a call that would send the starlings out of my yard.

Maybe a Cooper's Hawk call?